Ward Stones
History
"Come visit the famous artisans of ward stones at Deefin Gate!" --Advertisement placed in Piromese newspaper
"The moss collected by the superstitious Numab have found a gentle niche in the ward stones. The moss is cared for, sheltered from hardship, and given that rare elixir of life, water, all so that Numab can believe its glow protects them." --Retired Explorer Rand BelmontThere is a bioluminescent moss that grows in the Borderlands. The legends say that if a magical entity walks by the moss, the moss reacts and glows brighter. To take advantage of this, early Numabians created stone and glass containers with holes shaped like faces and filled the containers with the moss. They do glow dimly no matter what, but they do brighten somewhat whenever someone walks by, which makes them handy nightlights. The moss does require regular watering to stay healthy.
Components and tools
"To pass on a ward stone is a true marker of a Numabian's transition from youth to independent adulthood." --Numabian artisanMost stone holders are carved to be emblematic of particular animals found out in the wilds. These stones are often passed down through families and can become a symbol for the family/tribe. New holders are filled with moss from previously used holders as a way of carrying the responsibility of guarding the people from generation to generation. While it does grow freely in the wild, tradition says it's best to use passed down moss as it "knows the family better".
Observance
These are usually placed outside of homes and businesses. In caravans, they are placed at the doorway of the Sadi when they stop for the day and are brought inside for safety during transit. New stones are made or given to young Numabian's when they get their first house, shop, or sadi.
Primary Related Location
Important Locations
Related Ethnicities
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I love this idea :D It's a fun twist on traditional magical wardstones , and it does make a lot of sense. Does the moss has some magical sense allowing to tell when someone is nearby, or do they detect vibrations or something like that?
Thanks! It is kind of magical. The way I'm building magic for this world is that it acts kind of like radioactivity, in that it emits a reality distorting energy, but also relies heavily on belief (if you believe something/someone can do a fantastical thing, then they're more likely to have that ability). So the moss's detection glow works in both ways. If there is a magical creature/person nearby, the magical distortion aura will resonate with the moss to glow. And also, the mosses ability to detect magical energy is tied to this traditional belief and every day rituals of attention and water sacrifice that people pay to them. I hope I explained that clearly!